Cyprus is a real cycling destination. The southern European island, which has a Greek part and a Turkish part, lends itself perfectly to a short or long cycling trip. For CyclingDestination, Wouter van den Boogaard traveled to the Greek-Cypriot part. There you will find, among other things, the INEX club, run by a number of former professional cyclists. In this story, Wouter describes his trip, the Gran Tour Cyprus, and also gives tips for your cycling holiday in Cyprus. He joined a tour that lasted a total of five days, but for CyclingDestination he rode the first three days. Enjoy his story and take advantage of his tips!
Day 1: introduction at INEX Café in Limassol
On Wednesday, our adventure begins at the INEX Café in Limassol, Cyprus. Here, former professional players Ilnur Zakarin and Vyacheslav Kuznetsov welcome us; they are the founders of the INEX Club. This is a building and community consisting of a bike shop, indoor training facilities, a bike fit room, and locker rooms.
After all the participants of the Gran Tour have ordered their specialty coffee, we receive an extensive presentation of the five-day program. This “camp,” as they call it, will cover more than 300 km and over 7,000 meters of elevation gain. Fortunately, there is a support car that provides gels, bars, and isotonic drinks to keep us energized along the way. For the occasion, former pro and Etxeondo ambassador Haimar Zubeldia also joins us.
Left turns on the road
After the briefing, the first group leaves and we cycle on the left side of the road—something that will be important to keep in mind throughout the week. The first fifteen kilometers go through the city of Limassol, where the cars are surprisingly friendly. After the harbor with its gigantic ships, we follow quiet roads along the rocky coastline.
From there, we climb 250 meters to the picturesque village of Pissouri, where we enjoy a quick coffee in a panoramic bar. Due to road construction works further on, we are brought ten kilometers forward by the convoy—a real luxury. The last twenty kilometers are a climb of 700 meters, along the old town of Episkopi. The road has stretches with gradient rates above 20%, and with temperatures of 30°C our legs immediately feel the first real test. Around three o’clock, we arrive at the newly built Minthis Golf Resort. Here we have a quick bite to eat.
Gran Tour Cyprus – day 2: on to a new peak
The next morning we prepare in the Minthis Golf Clubhouse with a comprehensive breakfast. The INEX crew has already prepared our bikes. So we set off with confidence for what will be the most challenging day of our trip with the most elevation meters. After a short warm-up climb with slopes of more than 10%, the first part is mainly downhill.
Challenges
The first big challenge of the day is a 10 km climb with an average gradient of 6.5%, which quickly separates the group. In the village of Pano Panagia, we meet for coffee and cookies before tackling the next part of the route.
The next climb takes us to the Kykkos Monastery, a magnificent complex that, as we discover, was founded in the 11th century by the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. After a well-deserved Coca-Cola and snack, we descend to Kalopanayiotis, where we spend the night.
Beautiful stay
Most of us stay at the beautiful Casale Panayiotis Traditional Village Hotel, but Haimar, Pavel and Wouter take on an extra challenge and climb 1,200 meters further to the highest point of Cyprus: Mount Olympus. The last 6 km are tough for Pavel and Wouter, but they complete the climb and are rewarded with breathtaking views over the island.
After the ride, some of us visit the Marathasa Winery to taste local specialties. We end the evening with a delicious Greek-inspired dinner, overlooking the valley.
Day 3: The Cima Coppi stage to Mount Olympus
Today the most challenging stage of the Gran Tour Cyprus is scheduled: the Cima Coppi stage. Today the whole group will climb the mountain. Olympus, with an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level.
From the hotel, we climb 20 km, with an average elevation gain of 6.6%. The road is impressively well maintained and for the most part marked as a cycling route, alerting motorists to the presence of cyclists.
Pleasant temperature
We depart between 10:00 and 11:00, and thanks to the altitude the temperature remains pleasant around 20–22°C. After arriving at the summit we take a group photo on the peak of Mount Olympus, after which we enjoy a spectacular descent to the next picturesque village, Pano Platres.
Thanks to the relatively short stage, we have time to have a relaxing lunch together and we even take a walk to one of the waterfalls near the village, which adds a moment of tranquility to the adventure of the day.
Some of us book a massage to refresh our legs for the last two days of the tour. This service is available throughout the entire trip, provided by the support crew of the INEX Club.
Tips and tricks
Cycling in Cyprus is a unique experience with breathtaking views and challenging routes. The island of Cyprus ideal for a cycling holiday. You must take the following matters into account:
- Cyprus was a British crown colony until 1960. This is one of the reasons why they drive on the left on the island, instead of the right as on the European mainland.
- So if you rent a bike, please bear in mind that the brakes may be reversed from what you are used to. So the front brake is on the right side and the rear brake on the left, or vice versa.
- The temperatures in Cyprus are very high in the summer, around 40 degrees Celsius. Make sure you avoid the midday hours.
- Please note that in winter there may be snow on Olympos.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.